Cape Wind: When Can We Start?

Massachusetts, United States --
The developers of the embattled Cape Wind project got another piece of good news today, moving the nation's first federally-approved offshore wind farm closer to construction.

Cape Wind is a proposed 420-MW wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the state is allowed to give the project a so-called “composite certificate,” which supersedes other local regulatory agencies and protects Cape Wind from being bogged down by different permitting processes.

Because a transmission line connecting the project to the grid will run through a number of jurisdictions, different local agencies have given conflicting signals to the project. For example, the towns of Barnstable and Yarmouth did not want to grant the needed permits.

In 2007, the developer went to the Energy Facilities Siting Board and requested the board make the process easier and grant it all the needed permits at once. The Board was created to address this exact problem. The Board gave Cape Wind the permits, but a number of local opposition groups brought the issue to the Supreme Judicial Court.

Today's ruling in favor of the Board's decision means that Cape Wind has all the necessary federal, state and local permits to begin construction. In April, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar gave Cape Wind the federal government's approval.

Looking at the last nine long years of legal battles over Cape Wind, it's amazing that the project has continued to inch forward. But after a number of positive legal rulings this spring and summer, the vision for the first offshore wind farm in the U.S. looks like it may become a reality.

Back in 2007, the Daily Show's Jason Jones put together a very funny skit on the controversy around Cape Wind. It's worth a watch and a few good laughs.

4 Comments

Cape Wind prevailed because Horseshoe Shoal is an obvious location for offshore wind - probably the best spot on the east coast.

The speculation that Horseshoe Shoal holds historic properties seems like a convenient fabrication inserted into the process way to late. Where was this argument when the project first went to public hearing under the original ACOE review process? Nothing. After the Alliance to protect wealthy views ran out of ideas, they whipped up this delay tactic. Shame on those First Nation "leaders" for getting pulled into such a fabrication.

I believe the hydro power generated in Northern Quebec will be more than sufficient for New England,New York,Pennsylvania,and New Jersey.
That is unless the government decides to invest heavily in aluminum production,or intensify its commitment for steel production.

Deepwater Horizon blew while Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar was readying his approval speech for Cape Wind. His fixation on this offshore wind farm and protection of his corrupt MMS (now BOEMRE) absolutely REEK in the aftermath. Talk about side-stepping proper permitting! For five years, MMS circumvented protocols for dealing with Traditional Cultural Properties of resident First Nations people. The delay created great advantage for Cape Wind's proposal, and they moved ahead without proper consultation with tribal representatives. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (Apr. 2010) found against Cape Wind in part for this reason. Every American should read the ACHP report so they can see the extent of the damage that this wind farm will cause to national historic properties. Kenneth Lee Salazar has chosen to ignore the ACHP in order to further his obsession with this project. Politics as usual is what I see -- since MA gubernatorial incumbent Deval Patrick takes campaign money from Cape Wind vendors. Given that the corruption-steeped MMS (now BOEMRE) allowed Cape Wind to get this far, the proposal should be halted before ground is irreparably broken. Then perhaps a truly independent investigation can take place.

Add Your Comments

I am a reporter with ClimateProgress.org, a blog published by the Center for American Progress. I am former editor and producer for RenewableEnergyWorld.com, where I contributed stories and hosted the Inside Renewable Energy Podcast. Keep...